Oakstone Winery sells to Next Generation

After building Obscurity Cellars and then the Oakstone Winery, John Smith retired for the third time. Friends and colleagues Steve and Liz Ryan stepped up and bought “Oakstone 2.0″ at the new location, 6470 Irish Acres Road.

Peter Tyner, Mt Democrat, Dec 27 2012

It’s a terrible irony that a retirement dream winery should burn down in a place called Fair Play. The dream went up in smoke in mid 2012.

The once and future Oakstone Winery now seeks to repeat its development as a local success story, similar to the Phoenix of Greek mythology which regenerated itself from its own ashes.

Considering the players, it’s an odds-on favorite.

This El Dorado County wine estate opened in March, 1997, as the Oakstone Winery, the culmination of 25 years of preparation by its original owners John and Susan Smith. The founding winemaker has a PhD in analytical chemistry and spent his professional career in the design and development of scientific and medical instruments.

Until his retirement, he taught advanced analytical chemistry and a course entitled “The Chemistry of Wine” at San Jose State.

From 1992 to 1996, the energetic, white-bearded scientist served as the Winemaker for Single Leaf Winery and Vineyards.